Paintings by Subject

Paintings by Artist

M. McMillan Fine Art deals primarily in nineteenth century original oil paintings. Our gallery is located at 26 Bute Street, South Kensington, SW7 3EX, London. We have a large selection of 19th century paintings with various subjects ranging from Venetian, Equestrian, Landscape, Seascape and many others. We also provide full restoration, cleaning and framing services, insurance valuations, probate and advice on acquisitions.

See above (right) a fantastic painting by Percy Earl depicting the Derby winner, Windsor Lad, in impressive detail. For more information on this painting, please click here.The other painting is of a horse named Counsellor, a fabulous painting by John Ferneley Sr. (Top Left) For more information on this painting, please click here.The two paintings offer an interesting contrast between 18th and 19th century equestrian art. Notice the differences in detail and style.

See above on the right, a painting of Tom Walls on his horse Battles, painted by Alfred Grenfell Haigh. Tom Walls led a very eventful life as a street performer, playwright, actor and even a London policeman. However, one constant thing in his life was his love for horses. He began racing horses at the age of 10 and eventually became a Derby winning trainer in 1932. For more information on this painting, please click here.Facing Tom Walls is another jockey, named Tommy Loates, riding the Derby winning horse, Ladas. This detailed portrait was painted by the leading 19th century sporting artist, John Wheeler. (Top Left) The owner of the horse was a man by the name of Lord Rosebury and he had three predictions: One, that he would marry an heiress. Secondly, that he would become Prime Minister of Great Britain and lastly, that he would win the Derby. As luck would have it, all three predictions came true. For more information on this painting, please click here.

By:

John E Ferneley

Oil on canvas

Biography

John E. Ferneley, born the 18 May 1782 in Thrussington, Leicestershire was an English painter who specialised in portraying sporting horses and hunting scenes. Although his rendition of horses was stylised, he is regarded as one of the great British equine artists. His work was exhibited between 1806 and 1853 at the Royal Academy. Ferneley's paintings depicted hunting when it was extremely fashionable. Good horses sold quite readily for 200 guineas and most riders had at least ten in their stables. His work became much sought after, his patrons including many Royals and personalities such as Beau Brummel and the Count d'Orsay. Ferneley routinely was commissioned to paint the famous Quorn, Belvoir, and Cottesmore hunts. The members all contributed to the painter's fee and then drew lots to determine the winner. Ferneley specialised in painting "scurries", panoramic paintings showing a sequence of events. He befriended Sir Francis Grant and helped him with the painting of horses while Grant in return helped with figure painting. In this way they collaborated on a number of paintings. Ferneley's signature was done very delicately with a pin head in the wet paint and often hidden on a fence, stable door or in an unexpected corner of the painting. His signature is easily differentiated from that of his son, John Jr, who normally signed heavily in black. Between 1810 and 1812 he visited Ireland twice more, carrying out a great number of commissioned paintings for wealthy Irish patrons. He fathered six children with his first wife (who died in 1836) - three of whom also became painters. Ferneley died in 1860 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. For more information on this painting please click here